“Why, because your parents want me to fake date you in front of the cameras? We’ve both just witnessed what the pressures of your public image are doing to you. At least my sacrifice would be meaningful.”
The words barely leave her mouth before my hand is moving, a decision I’m unaware of being made. I catch her by the front of her pantsuit and haul her toward me, the sudden motion pulling a startled breath from her lips that collides with mine. All of the sudden anger that is burning through me crashes my mouth onto hers.
My hand fists in the fabric at her waist, dragging her closer and spinning us to force her back against the railing. Her lips part in surprise and I take the opportunity immediately, claiming the space with a bruising insistence that feels dangerously close to losing control.
If she thinks she can throw her life away, then she’s about to feel exactly how much that idea infuriates me.
Meg makes a sound against my mouth, half gasp and half groan, and the vibration shoots straight through me like a spark hitting gasoline. Her fingers clutch at the front of my coat, gripping hard as though she’s deciding whether to shove me away or pull me closer. She chooses closer.
Her mouth pushes back against mine with a fierce heat that matches the hurricane in my veins. Teeth catch against my lower lip, and the sharp sting only drives my tongue to push deeper inside her mouth. The heat of her mouth and the violent certainty burning through my chest at the thought of her willingly walking back into danger is something I’m going to have to unpack later.
My hand slides up her back, fingers splaying between her shoulder blades as the rhythm of her heartbeat hammersthrough the thin layers of fabric between us. Somewhere between the desire to take everything she’s willing to give me, a small voice in the back of my head sounds and I sigh against her mouth. Dragging her face an inch away from mine, I put an end to this before we pass the point of no return.
“Your safety is not up for negotiation. Don’t make me put measures in place to see to that.” Despite me holding her face in my hands, Meg looks away, her gaze drifting back across the darkened field.
“Okay, Everest.” I open my mouth and then close it again. My chest rises and falls slowly, the earlier panic now replaced by something equally uncomfortable. I had been fully prepared for her to fight me on this, but I suppose we’re both emotionally exhausted by now. Something has to give eventually, I’m just surprised it was from Meg.
“Good girl,” I settle on. Meg’s eyes swing back to mine, and I pull away before she can slap me for being patronizing.
Jerking my head towards the exit, there’s a huff and a second’s pause before she starts to follow. I consider pushing it one step further and commenting on what a relief it is to know she can be obedient when she wants to be, but I keep that thought locked inside. There are still reporters on campus, it wouldn’t be a good look to leave here sporting a black eye.
We leave the stadium without another word, the echo of what just happened lingering between us like the aftershock of a tornado that hasn’t fully cleared. The air feels colder now, the adrenaline having drained from my system, the panic attack leaving a hollow fatigue in my bones, but I keep moving anyway. Meg walks beside me, her heels clicking softly, and for once neither of us feels the need to fill the silence with barbed comments or forced bravado.
The vigil lights glow faintly in the distance, flickering between the trees like a ghostly reminder of the performancewe’ve both escaped. I deliberately steer us down the narrow maintenance paths that cut between the stadium and the academic buildings. The last thing I need tonight is a round of probing questions from the reporters, faculty, and worse, my parents.
Shoving my hands deeper into the pockets of my coat, I focus on getting Meg back to her place and then me to mine without any more incidents. If the lingering sensation of Meg’s mouth against mine can be called an incident. My jaw tightens at the memory. That kiss had been reckless and angry, and the fact that I don’t regret it even slightly is something I’m not prepared to examine tonight.
By the time we reach the circular driveway in front of the main administrative building, the campus is practically deserted. The structure rises above us, its tall stone columns casting long shadows across the pavement under the glow of the lanterns flanking the entrance. I slow slightly as we step onto the drive, making sure Meg is in my sight at all times. What she said in that stadium will continue to haunt me as much as my reaction to it. Just when I think we’re going to make it across the quad without encountering another soul, headlights sweep across the front steps.
Meg and I both stop instinctively, our attention shifting toward a vehicle as it pulls to a halt in front of the admin building’s doors. I squint against the flood lights trying to blind me to see it’s a taxi. The engine idles before cutting out, the back door opening. I briefly wonder who the hell would be turning up at this time of night, and then remember that a, it’s not my problem, and b, I don’t give a shit.
Reaching for the small of Meg’s back, I attempt to help her dodge the vehicle, but she’s frozen to the spot. I glance at her wide-eyed expression, note that she’s not breathing and then turn back to the guy who has climbed out of the cab.
He’s tall, thin, and carrying one of the largest hiking backpacks I’ve ever seen strapped to his shoulders. The thing looks like it could sustain someone through a week in the wilderness. He pauses beside the car, pushing a pair of glasses higher on his nose while slowly turning in a full circle, scanning the campus like someone who has absolutely no idea where he is. The driver pops the trunk to retrieve two more massive duffle bags, complaining that they’re heavy as he hauls them out and drops them onto the pavement with a thud.
“Hey, watch it,” the guy suddenly blurts, using his hands rather expressively. “The equipment in there is fragile!” Even though I didn’t think it possible, Meg becomes even more rigid. Her shoulders lock, and the color from her face drains. Whatever is happening right now, I don’t like it.
“What—” I start, but the question never leaves my mouth, because the guy by the taxi finally turns toward us.
“Meg, is that you?” he smiles the kind of smile I’d expect to see on a golden retriever. Meg takes a hesitant step forward, and then sudden bolts. I barely have time to react as she runs in her heels, closing the distance and throwing herself into this guys’ arms. I merely watch the display, bubbled laughter and mumbled speech mixing with…is Meg crying?
Nope, I don’t like this. Not one bit. But also, Meg’s a big girl and the longer I hang around, the more I feel like I’m creeping on something I wasn’t supposed to see. The taxi peels away, taking most of the light with it. Using the darkness, I try to slink away unnoticed, but apparently my evening is going to keep getting worse and worse.
“Ayy, Captain Sparkle!” the voice rings out and I stop in mid-step. My chest constricts and now, as I turn back, I take in this stranger properly under the glow of the lanterns. Dark curls that are cropped short at the sides. Strong blue eyes against tanned skin and a weird, animated smile. I know that face. Not that I’veseen him personally before, but I’ve seen an avatar that looks just like it, even if he did put extra emphasis on his muscles.
“You,” I murmur to myself, but he hears it. His grin grows wider, his arm slipping around Meg’s back. The girl in between us won’t look me in the eye, even though her lips are still bruised from mine. Another heated emotion rises. One similar to blind, hot rage, but tainted with an unhealthy dose of jealousy.
“Looks like you’ll be seeing me around more often,” he beams. “Or rather, I’ll beseeingmore of you.” There’s a challenge in the jump of his brows, a confidence that grates me entirely the wrong way. I set my jaw, giving Meg one last sweeping glance that she ignores before I turn my back on the pair of them.
My strides eat up the pavement now, heading directly towards my frat house. Meg’s new companion can see to it that she gets home safely, since I’m apparently no longer needed. Although, as his deep rolling laughter follows me across campus, I decide someone is going to have to show this asshole exactly who’s territory he’s just stepped into, and as soon as I can burn the image of his arm around Meg out of my skull, I’ll get to it.
Chapter Twenty Seven
“Thiago,” I breathe, barely loud enough to be heard over the rustle of nearby leaves. I stand frozen with shock long after Everest has walked away, his broad back being cloaked by darkness before he vanished from existence. My lips are still tingling from the roughness of his kiss, the ferocity of his protectiveness, but I don’t have the mental capacity to consider his thoughts right now.
I can’t even remember how I transported from Everest’s side to Thiago’s, his sudden appearance short wiring my brain. All I know is, I’m not ready to shake the weight of his arm around my back. He’s here. Actually here in person, as if the sheer desperation of my yearning has fabricated him.
Turning into his body, Thiago’s arms wrap tighter around me, the smile on his face reaching ear to ear. My palms flatten on his chest, a war happening between my head and heart. His face is smooth, his eyes twinkling blue and full of humor, exactly how I know him to be. Except, he’s not sitting behind a screen. I’m not getting pieces of him within a voice note or as a username in a game lobby. I’m staring directly at him, his heart beating beneath my palm.
